Welcome to North Rhine-Westphalia

Company Profile

North Rhine-Westphalia: a travel destination throughout the entire year Ludwig van Beethoven, Heinrich Heine or Joseph Beuys – the most populous and most densely populated Federal State is at the same time also an important cultural state! North Rhine-Westphalia has produced many artists and is one of the largest cultural regions in Europe. Millions of visitors are attracted to the region every year by the numerous museums, concert halls and events. And there are all of five fantastic UNESCO World Heritage Sites here: Cologne Cathedral, Aachen Cathedral, Schloss Augustusburg, Zeche Zollverein and Corvey.

Sportspeople as well get their money’s worth in North Rhine-Westphalia: around 14,000 km cycle transport network leads through wonderful landscapes, to industrial culture, castles and regional history. Hikers appreciate the highs and lows of North Rhine-Westphalia in particular; hikers wander through romantic river valleys on medalled routes as well as over the tips of the low mountain range.

Apart from the diverse range of cultural and sporting activities available, North Rhine-Westphalia offers enjoyable traditions like “Karneval” as well as a great deal of shopping opportunities. And those looking for relaxation and peace will find this in the numerous health resorts, thermal baths and in brine and moor mud baths.

The culinary delights in North Rhine-Westphalia also leave nothing to be desired: there is one 3-star restaurant at home here, likewise regional specialities, from Aachen Printen (gingerbreads) to Westphalian ham.

Facts

Largest cities

Cologne

Düsseldorf

Dortmund

Essen

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Cologne Cathedral

Aachen Cathedral

Schloss Augustusburg in Brühl

Zeche Zollverein in Essen

Corvey in Höxter

Leisure

over 900 museums

13,800 kmcycle tracks

60,000 kmnature trails

70 lakes

14 natural parks and one national park

two winter sport regions with over 600 km ski runs

Shopping

Shopping street in Germany with the highest number of visitors: Schildergasse in Cologne

Most popular luxury mile in Germany: Königsallee “Kö” in Düsseldorf

Largest inner city shopping centre in Germany: Limbecker Platz in Essen

Europe’s largest shopping and leisure centre: CentrO in Oberhausen

Brands / Products / Services

Your North Rhine-Westphalia ACTIVE - your zest for life.Those of you wishing to really let off steam can do this in North Rhine-Westphalia. For example, there are 13,800 kilometres of cycle tracks in the region. Those setting off by bicycle or on foot will be rewarded on the varied tours with very special insights.

Your North Rhine-Westphalia NATURE - your nature experience.NRW is greener than many think: far more than half of the state consists of forests, rivers, fields, and meadows. Specifically the National Park and 14 nature parks invite visitors to discover North Rhine-Westphalia’s green side close up and personally.

Your North Rhine-Westphalia HEALTH - your vitality.Hot springs, mud baths or drinking cures – North Rhine-Westphalia is healthy. Spa and health holidays play a very special role here since prevention is combined with recuperation here.

Your North Rhine-Westphalia CITIES - your flair.Sauntering and shopping is something you can do anywhere, the choice is endless. The shopping landscape ranges from the exuberant inner cities, to busy pedestrian zones up to the alleys and squares of historical town and city centres.

Your North Rhine-Westphalia CULINARY - your taste.North Rhine-Westphalia is diverse – also from a culinary point of view.

Products

Cultural Highlights and City ToursWith over 900 museums North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the most diverse cultural regions in Europe. With their displays the exhibition houses provide deep insights into the fields of art and history, technology and science or environment and nature. Included among the large houses with international charisma are above all art museums, such as the art collection North Rhine-Westphalia with the K20 and K21 ( www.kunstsammlung.de ), the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn ( www.bundeskunsthalle.de ), the Folkwang Museum in Essen ( www.museum-folkwang.de ) as well as Museum Ludwig and Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne ( www.museenkoeln.de ).

Palaces and CastlesImpressive castle and palace towers rise up into the sky in all regions of North Rhine-Westphalia and provide impressive evidence of the lifestyles our predecessors led. Yet it wasn’t only dukes, electors or knights who lived in these residences but also strange legendary figures. Many of the structures are open to the public today.

Industrial Culture No other region in Germany has so many significant testimonies to industrial history than in North Rhine-Westphalia: a dense network of over 60 industrial museums and visitors‘ mines, almost 200 museums as well as an even greater number of industrial and industrial monuments cover the land. On a circuit of 400 km the route of Industrial Culture ( www.route-industriekultur.de ) links sights from 150 years of industrial history in the Ruhr region. The highlights include the Gasometer in Oberhausen and the landscape park Duisburg-Nord.

CyclingActive participants get their money’s worth, for example cyclists: North Rhine-Westphalia is the number one cycling state in Germany. At present the regional cycle network is around 13,800 kilometers’ long. There are over 60 cycle stations and over 500 “Bed + Bike” businesses (www.bettundbike.de ) make it especially easy for cyclists to find a suitable place to stay the night. The various cycle routes offer cycling pleasure to suit everybody’s taste:

Cultural Highlights and City ToursWith over 900 museums North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the most diverse cultural regions in Europe. With their displays the exhibition houses provide deep insights into the fields of art and history, technology and science or environment and nature. Included among the large houses with international charisma are above all art museums, such as the art collection North Rhine-Westphalia with the K20 and K21 (www.kunstsammlung.de), the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn (www.bundeskunsthalle.de), the Folkwang Museum in Essen (www.museum-folkwang.de) as well as Museum Ludwig and Wallraf-Richartz-Museum in Cologne (www.museenkoeln.de).

Palaces and CastlesImpressive castle and palace towers rise up into the sky in all regions of North Rhine-Westphalia and provide impressive evidence of the lifestyles our predecessors led. Yet it wasn’t only dukes, electors or knights who lived in these residences but also strange legendary figures. Many of the structures are open to the public today.

Industrial CultureNo other region in Germany has so many significant testimonies to industrial history than in North Rhine-Westphalia: a dense network of over 60 industrial museums and visitors‘ mines, almost 200 museums as well as an even greater number of industrial and industrial monuments cover the land. On a circuit of 400 km the route of Industrial Culture (www.route-industriekultur.de) links sights from 150 years of industrial history in the Ruhr region. The highlights include the Gasometer in Oberhausen and the landscape park Duisburg-Nord.

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Health, Active and Nature

Active and NatureYou’ll find relaxation around every corner here. The region is quick to reach and get around in, but your NRW still offers long journeys of discovery if you want, in the form of seven premium hiking trails, a network of cycle paths totalling 13,800 kilometres, or the largest ski area north of the Alps. Whether on foot, by bike or on skis: discover your zest for life in NRW!

CyclingNorth Rhine-Westphalia is the cycling federal state number one in Germany. The nationwide network of cycle paths connects all the cities and municipalities in the country with a consistent sign-posting which is 13.8 thousand kilometers long. This corresponds to the distance from Cologne to Tierra del Fuego! More than 600 bed + bike companies in NRW look forward to active guests.

HikingHikers in North Rhine-Westphalia have quality beneath their feet: an increasing number of trails are being awarded the ‘Quality hiking trail’ seal under the German Hiking Association’s ‘Wanderbares Deutschland’ programme. NRW has something of a tradition here, being present right from the start: the oldest and most successful hiking trail under the certification procedure is the Eggeweg in the Teutoburg Forest.

MICE

North Rhine-Westphalia – the best address for trade fairs and conventionsNorth Rhine-Westphalia is an ideal location for conferences, trade fairs and congresses. The most heavily populated German state is a place where the world’s economies comes together. Nine DAX companies are headquartered here, over 70 universities offer outstanding research and teaching programmes, and around 100 international trade fairs are held at the trade fair centres in Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Essen every year. Thanks to the central location and the good international transport connections, you will reach your destination in no time. The state’s six airports, 2,200 kilometres of motorway, and extensive train and bus network connect North Rhine-Westphalia with the world. Business partners come together in over 40 congress centres, in more than 500 conference hotels and in numerous events locations across the state.

Conference planner for NRWThe conference planner for North Rhine-Westphalia provides all the most important information for holding conferences in NRW’s cities, rural regions or at one of its more unusual locations. In addition to information on high-quality conference sites, congress and events centres, conference hotels and events locations, the conference planner also offers numerous convenient services: the opportunity to directly and simultaneously request information from multiple providers, an overview of the available conference packages and conference rooms, image and video material of the event locations as well as tips for ensuring a successful supporting programme.

Barrier-free Travel

Barrier-free through North Rhine-WestphaliaAachen offers guided tours for the blindPeople with visual impairments can go on a special city tour in Aachen: a audio city guide provides not only interesting facts about the most important sights the city has to offer but also gives information on dangerous situations in road traffic and warns in good time when stairs, kerbs and uneven ground is approaching.www.aachen-tourist.de

Düsseldorf barrier-freeAs of now people with reduced mobility can find out in detail about the accessibility of facilities relevant to tourists in Düsseldorf with a new brochure. The brochure summarises information on hotels, arriving and departing, on restaurants in the area of the old town and the Media Harbour as well as on the accessibility of cultural institutions and sights. Moreover, it also gives tips on where to go for a relaxing shopping spree.www.duesseldorf-barrierefrei.de

Barrier-free through the National Park EifelThe wild Kermeter in the National Park Eifel comprises a barrier-free route network of 4.7 km in length. The finely gravelled routes open up paths to the important common beech mixed forests and the popular viewpoints of the Kermeter. All facilities like the car park, bus stop and toilets are barrier free for people in wheelchairs. Benches placed at regular intervals and four sensory relaxation places with quotation boards offer numerous possibilities to rest. In addition the information on site is shown in Braille and raised capitals or acoustically prepared.www.nationalpark-eifel.de

Miscellaneous

Event overviewWhether it is the thrill experience at the huge fairground or enjoying art in first class exhibitions, whether it is romance at spectacular firework displays or excitement at sporting events – great events take place in North Rhine-Westphalia.You’ll find more highlights on the internet: www.tourism-nrw.com.

Newsletter

Our North Rhine-Westphalia newsletter will provide you with information on regular event tips, ideas for destinations for trips out as well as other attractive offers by email. You can order the newsletter online at www.dein-nrw.de or send us an email to info@nrw-tourismus.de .

Your route to North Rhine-Westphalia

North Rhine-Westphalia is easy to reach from everywhere; regardless of whether you are arriving by rail, car or plane.

six international and regional airports (Düsseldorf, Dortmund, Cologne/Bonn, Münster/Osnabrück, Paderborn/Lippstadt and Weeze) link North Rhine-Westphalia with the entire world. And it is not expensive to reach us with numerous low-cost airlines.

by rail on a good 6,500 km rail tracks to over 30 IC/EC/ICE railway stations.

by bus or by car on 2,200 km motorways and 5,100 km national highways. The traffic information service will take the stress out of your journey. Or you simply take your car and get on the car train.